STATUTORY RULES.
1927. No. 24.
REGULATION UNDER THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905-1919.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, do hereby make the following Regulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated the ninth day of March, 1927.
STONEHAVEN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. GIBSON,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1924, No. 101, as amended to this date.)
After regulation 74 of the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, the following is inserted:—
Supply of programmes to be broadcasted.
“74a.—(1.) Upon receipt of an application in writing from the proprietor of any registered newspaper the licensee of any Class A station shall, within three days after the day upon which the application is received, supply, for the purpose of publication in the newspaper, one copy of the programme of the items to be broadcasted by the station on each of the seven days following the day upon which the copy is supplied.
“(2.) Programmes supplied in pursuance of this regulation may be published in any registered newspaper.
“(3.) In this regulation, ‘registered newspaper’ means a newspaper registered under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923.
“(4.) Subject to the approval of the Postmaster-General, the licensee may make a reasonable charge to cover the cost of postage and of supplying copies of programmes in pursuance of this regulation.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1927, enacted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919, were introduced to refine the regulatory framework governing wireless telegraphy in Australia. The Federal Executive Council, on the advice of the Governor-General, established these regulations to ensure that the operation of wireless telegraphy stations, particularly Class A stations, aligned with contemporary needs and standards. The specific problem these regulations sought to address includes the lack of transparency and accessibility in the broadcasting schedules of wireless stations, which could hinder the public's ability to stay informed about broadcast content. The policy objective of these amendments was to enhance the dissemination of broadcast programme information by requiring Class A station licensees to supply programme details to newspaper proprietors, thereby improving public awareness and engagement with wireless broadcasts.
Scope and Application
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations of 1927, as amended, govern the operation of wireless telegraphy within the Commonwealth of Australia, applying to entities such as licensees of Class A stations and proprietors of registered newspapers. The Regulations specifically mandate that upon written application from a newspaper proprietor, the licensee of a Class A station must supply a copy of the broadcast programme for each of the subsequent seven days to be published in a registered newspaper. These regulations are designed to ensure transparency and accessibility of broadcast schedules for the public. The term "registered newspaper" is defined within the context of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, indicating the scope of permissible publications. The Regulations allow for a reasonable charge by the licensee to cover costs related to postage and supply, subject to the approval of the Postmaster-General. The regulatory framework is comprehensive, with amendments extending its application to modern practices in broadcasting and communication.
Key Provisions
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, 1927 (C1927L00024) amend the existing Wireless Telegraphy Regulations by introducing a new provision, regulation 74a. Regulation 74a mandates that upon receiving an application from the proprietor of a registered newspaper, the licensee of any Class A station must supply, within three days, a copy of the station’s broadcast programme for each of the seven days following the day the copy is supplied. This programme is intended for publication in the newspaper. The term ‘registered newspaper’ is defined under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, ensuring that only newspapers registered under that Act are eligible to receive these programme copies. The regulation also allows the licensee to charge a reasonable fee for postage and the cost of supplying these programme copies, subject to the Postmaster-General’s approval.
The obligations imposed by regulation 74a primarily fall on the licensees of Class A stations. They are required to respond promptly to written applications from newspaper proprietors by providing the requested programme copies within three days. The regulation also allows for a fee to be charged, but this must be approved by the Postmaster-General, ensuring that the fee is reasonable and does not unduly burden the newspaper proprietor. The licensees must ensure that the programmes supplied are accurate and comprehensive, reflecting the intended broadcast schedule for the subsequent seven days.
Breaches of regulation 74a may result in civil or administrative consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the regulation itself, the general legal framework under which the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1919 operates suggests that failure to comply with these requirements could lead to penalties such as fines or other administrative actions. These consequences are intended to enforce compliance and ensure that the broadcasting and publication processes operate smoothly and transparently. The precise penalties would be determined in the context of any legal proceedings arising from non-compliance.